Help a Marine Vet Cover Unfair VA Assistance Fees
First off—if you’re a direct parent or grandparent of mine or my wife’s, please don’t take offense—but we don’t want your money. That’s just out of respect. This is meant for anyone else who feels moved to help, not for those who’ve already done so much for us.
It honestly crushes me to ask for help like this. Especially knowing I can make the monthly payments. But with me only collecting Social Security disability, money is always tight for our family. I’m not saying we’re poor—we just have to budget hard. And these monthly payments would basically swallow the VA compensation I just received, leaving us right back at square one.
My name is Justin Defer. I’m a proud U.S. Marine veteran who served honorably, overcame two strokes caused by a rare brain stem AVM, and is working every day to show up for my wife, my daughter, my son, and the life we’re building—together and stronger than ever.
After I was medically retired from the Department of Defense in 2020, I sought help from a VA assistance firm to handle the confusing, stressful claims process. I thought I was getting guidance. What I got instead was nearly $2,000 in unexpected fees.
I’ve rebuilt myself from rock bottom before. I’m not looking for a handout—just asking for a hand up. Every dollar raised will go toward wiping out this debt and letting my VA payments actually benefit my family.
If you’ve ever known a vet—or just believe in helping one who served and slipped through the cracks—your support would mean everything.
Semper Fi,
Justin “Wildcard” Defer
